This week, I attended a wildfire-focused community event — a session of the 2025 “Living with Wildfire” Town Hall Series.

The event was presented by the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD), and representatives from the CSFD Wildfire Mitigation Team, Colorado Springs Police Department, El Paso-Teller County 9-1-1 Authority (Peak Alerts), Colorado Springs Utilities, and Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management were in attendance. Short presentations were given by each entity highlighting different things that community residents can do to prepare for wildfire now. Additionally, each organization had a table set up with flyers and opportunities to learn valuable information about fire risk, preparation, mitigation, and response.
 
CSFD has offered town halls tailored to different parts of the city for quite some time, but I found it really interesting that they have begun holding sessions focused on the neighborhoods adjacent to the eastern side of the town — the prairieland. Have you heard the term “wildland urban interface” or “WUI” before? CSFD shared the term “prairieland urban interface” or “PUI.” This is one I had not heard but, having studied and performed research on wildfire-prone areas impacted by grass fires, I fully support discussing and sharing the idea and risks of living in the PUI.

I’m pleased to report that, since I began this #FirePrepFriday journey with all of you, I have completed nearly every task recommend by the event’s speakers. Meaning, if you’ve prioritized fire prep and worked through the tasks along with me, too, you’re also in a much better position before the next emergency. Way to go!
 
I highly recommend that you find and attend a similar type of event happening in your community. If there isn’t a town hall opportunity, then request an appointment with the local fire department to ask questions about how you can better prepare and mitigate based on where you live. And, who knows — you could end up being interviewed by the local news station after they notice you taking copious notes. Check out the article and video from KOAA News5 Colorado Springs.
 
Does your community hold wildfire-focused educational events? Tell me about them in the Comments.
 
Important Disclaimer: I am not a fire preparedness professional. I am merely sharing my research, opinions, and what I find that applies to my geographic and personal situations in hopes that it will help others. Please make sure that whatever steps and advice you follow are what is best for you

Admittedly, and I don’t know why, building a Go Bag feels like a big undertaking. How do you assemble at least two weeks’ worth of basic necessities and your most valuable possessions? I suppose in the same way you do anything else – one step at a time.

For the next six weeks, I want to build our Go Bags incrementally by focusing on the six “P’s.” What are they? I’m so glad you asked:

1. People and pets
2. Papers, phone numbers, and important documents
3. Prescriptions, vitamins, and eyeglasses
4. Pictures and irreplaceable memorabilia
5. Personal computers (data on hard disk drives (or any electro-mechanical data storage devices))
6. “Plastic” (credit cards, ATM cards) and cash

Okay, fine… I suppose you could argue that’s closer to eight P’s, but I recommend we stay consistent with the organizations that recognize six (like the Los Angeles Fire Department, the Colorado Springs Fire Department, CAL FIRE, Oregon Wildfire Response & Recovery, and many more). No matter how many P’s you count, they include the items you need to have packed and ready when it’s time to go.
 
People and Pets
Fortunately, we’ve already completed a lot of the work associated with the first of the six P’s. Way to go! In Week 2, we prepared to evacuate with pets. In Week 3, we identified emergency evacuation routes and shelter locations. In Week 6, we built our Get Home Bag (the bag that lives in our vehicles or outside of our homes and, if push comes to shove, already contains the basic items we want for evacuation).

In addition to what we’ve done in past weeks, Oregon Wildfire Response & Recovery lists food, water, hygiene, sanitation, clothing, and comfort items as the things to gather to fulfill the first P. I raided my 20-year-old backpacking supplies and here is what I collected for myself:

• Large backpack
• Food: Emergency ration provisions, food utensils
• Water: Water bottle, water bladder, and water purification items
• Hygiene and Sanitation: Camping soap, towel, toothbrush, toothpaste, lotion, deodorant, comb, bandages, feminine products
• Clothing: Rain jacket, long-sleeved shirts, tank tops, pants, belt, socks, sun hat, neck gaiter, ear warmer, gloves, fleece jacket, fleece pants, long johns, and undergarments
• Sleeping bag
• Stuff sacks to keep clothing, hygiene/sanitation, food, and water items organized
• Duplicates of items from the Week 6 Get Home Bag

 
Of course, your items will look different depending on your needs and the needs of other people and animals in your care. Don’t forget about:

• Children
  • Project Wildfire: Preparing Your Children for Evacuation
  • Save the Children: How to Prepare for a Wildfire
  • The National Child Traumatic Stress Network: Wildfire Resources
  • American Red Cross: Teaching Kids About Emergency Preparedness
• Older and Elderly Adults
  • Elder Love USA: Wildfire Preparedness for Older Adults
  • Frontline Wildfire Defense: Wildfires and the Elderly: Protecting the Most Vulnerable
  • Home Instead: 10 Tips to Stay Safe from Wildfires
  • Aging.com: Disaster Preparedness – A Complete Guide for Seniors
• People with Disabilities
  • National Fire Protection Agency: Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide for People with Disabilities
  • United Spinal Association: 9 Wildfire Preparedness Resources for People with Disabilities
  • Disability Rights California: Wildfire Resource Guide & How Disability Rights California Can Help You
  • Loyola University Maryland: Evacuation for Persons with Disabilities
    • This is for general evacuation information, as opposed to specifically written for wildfire evacuation, but the information is helpful
• Pets (including Large Animals)
  • National Fire Protection Agency: Evacuation for Household Pets and Horses
  • Ready.gov: Prepare Your Pets for Disasters
  • American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: Wildfire Safety: How to Stay Prepared and Keep Your Pets Safe
  • American Veterinary Medical Association: Large Animals and Livestock in Disasters
  • Santa Cruz County Office of Response, Recovery & Resilience: Large Animal Emergency Preparedness
  • Lake County Fire Safe Council: Evacuating Large Animals & Livestock
  • Idaho Firewise: Evacuation – Evacuating Pets & Large Animals

 
Another courtesy would be to attach a sign to the door for first responders to let them know the people and pets have fully evacuated.
 
Cost: $0 - $$$ (Depending on the supplies you may need to buy now)
Frequency: Check your supplies semi-annually, and add or swap any items right away
 
How are you getting yourself, family, roommates, neighbors, and pets ready? What items did I miss? Are there any other useful resources you recommend? Let me know in the Comments.
 
Important Disclaimer: I am not a fire preparedness professional. I am merely sharing my research, opinions, and what I find that applies to my geographic and personal situations in hopes that it will help others. Please make sure that whatever steps and advice you follow are what is best for you.
​

If you're like me, your pet is your child, and you'll do anything to make sure they're safe. For Week 2, I want to ensure the fur, feather, scale, and hoof babies are ready to go. There are a number of "need to have" and "nice to have" items, so build your emergency evacuation supplies in such a way that they fit the needs of you and your pet(s). I'll share what I did for my dog, Abby, and then I'll list additional resources.

Items in Abby's Go Bag

• Travel crate, travel bed, and a small towel
  • The crate is labeled with my contact information
• Food and items for eating/drinking
  • To make it easy, I put the most recently purchased bag of food in the Go Bag (and I rotate food bags every time I shop and get a new one)
  • I included bowls, a small container, a scoop, and a clip for the food bag
• Personal information, vaccination records, and prescriptions
  • I scanned the following items, emailed them to myself so I have electronic records, and also printed and added them to the bag:
    • I used this list from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but added today's date (so I know when it was last updated), her Colorado license information (and included her tag in her bag), and her estimated date of birth
    • Rabies and vaccination records (and included her rabies tag in her bag)
  • I keep all of Abby's heartworm, flea, and tick prevention treatments in their original boxes (with the pharmacy labels and instructions) and in her bag at all times. Like her food bags, I rotate out the prescriptions every time I get a refill.
  • I included a recent photograph of Abby and me. In the event we're separated, and I don't have my phone, I can share the photo as proof to get us reunited.
• Pet first aid information
• Shirt, jacket, and socks
  • Clothing can serve a couple purposes: If it's cold, it'll keep her warm; and if she sustains an injury, a shirt or socks will help keep her from fussing at bandaged wounds or stitches
• Extra harness, collar, and light-up safety collar
• Potty patches and poop bags
• Pouch
  • One benefit of a little dog is that I can easily tuck her into a pouch and have free hands

Assuming we're both at home when I receive the "Go: Evacuate Now" alert, all I have to do is put Abby in her crate, grab her Go Bag, and leave the area. Other items that will be useful for me -- like water, bandages, blankets, etc. -- will be part of a separate weekly task list item.

How to Prepare If You're Not At Home When Your Neighborhood Must Evacuate
This is a huge concern of mine, so I've done what I can in case this is ever the scenario we experience.

• My neighbors know Abby and are aware she's at home (if she isn't with me)
• I have a sticker in a front window that I identifies there is one dog in the house
• If first responders get into the house and Abby escapes in a panic, she is microchipped

I understand the whole "put your oxygen mask on first" metaphor but, for me, it was really important to get Abby ready for wildfire early on in our preparation journey.

Cost: $0 - $$$ (depending on what you already have and what you need to add)​
Frequency: Check the Go Bag frequently enough to ensure that food and medications aren't expired. Depending on the seasons, have water in the car or near the door (for example, I don't keep water in the car when outside temperatures are freezing). Also depending on seasons, swap out lighter clothing for something thicker.

What do you have in your pet(s)' Go Bags? Or what did you have, but removed when you realized it wasn't necessary in an emergency situation? What other resources are useful? Let me know in the Comments.

Additional Resources To Help You Get Started

• Examples of pre-built pet emergency Go Bags, kits, and supplies (I have not tried any of these):
  • Chewy ($10 - $130)
  • Amazon ($12 - $130)
  • Etsy ($25 - $300)
• Identification product I use for Abby: DOG iD
  • In addition to a typical collar tag, I purchased this ID from the makers of ROAD iD because I can include more information. It's attached to Abby's leash.
• U.S. CDC: Build a Pet Disaster Preparedness Kit
• Ready: Prepare Your Pets for Disasters
  • This site includes tips for preparing to evacuate with large animals (horses, goats, pigs)
• American Red Cross: Pet Disaster Preparedness
  • This site includes information for livestock and companion animals; pet first aid; protection from heat, winter, and fire; and travel safety
• American Human Society: Pet Disaster Preparedness
• Best Friends Animal Society: Pet Emergency Kit Checklist and Plan
• Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region: Disaster Preparedness
  • Although a local site, there are links for how to prepare with domestic pets versus non-commercial livestock, as well as FAQs

Important Disclaimer: I am not a fire preparedness professional. I am merely sharing my research, opinions, and what I find that applies to my geographic and personal situations in hopes that it will help others. Please make sure that whatever steps and advice you follow are what is best for you.